Mike Shinoda

Michael Kenji "Mike" Shinoda (篠田 賢治, Shinoda Kenji) (/ʃɪˈnoʊdə/, born February 11, 1977) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, rapper, record producer, and graphic designer. He co-founded Linkin Park in 1996 and is one of the band's vocalists, as well as rhythm guitarist, keyboardist, primary songwriter and producer. Shinoda later created a hip-hop-driven side project, Fort Minor, in 2004. He has also served as a producer for tracks and albums by Lupe Fiasco, Styles of Beyond and the X-Ecutioners.

Shinoda was born on February 11, 1977, in Panorama City, California and raised in Agoura Hills, California. His father is Japanese-American. He has a younger brother named Jason. He was raised as a liberal Protestant. Shinoda's mother encouraged him to take classical piano lessons when he was six. By 13, he expressed the desire to move toward playing jazz, blues, and hip hop. He later added the guitar and rap-style vocals to his repertoire during his middle school and high school years.